The Mix Tapes
Exchange Program
Hello. Are you from Reddit /r/minidisc? If you mail me a MD-format mix tape or bootleg, I will send you one back in response. Please include a note which states which MD(s) from this list you wish to receive and your mailing address in case the shipping label is damaged. Include your email address if you want to receive shipping notifications. You may send multiple MDs and I will send multiple MDs back. There are no particular requirements about the music you put on the MD(s) you send, whatever you think is cool.
Send your MD to:
Colin Leigh 700 NW Gilman Blvd E103 PMB135 Issaquah, WA 98027 USA
Catalog
Here the term "mix tape" is used generically regardless of the physical media format. These are mix tapes and bootlegs arranged or recorded by Alex Leigh, unless otherwise noted.
Ratings are as follows:
- 0: Not intended for regular musical listening, not/applicable, etc.
- 1: I would turn this off or skip if it came on.
- 2: Wouldn't turn it off, don't love it.
- 3: This is great.
Source Media indicates the physical media the recording was received as, not how it may have been originally recorded or presented. Digital means that the track was received via digital means (CD, flac, mp3, etc). A "concert bootleg" was recorded live at a venue using microphones. A "soundboard recording" was recorded live at a venue via an output on the soundboard or mixer. Copies of minidiscs are lossless (are not re-encoded).
by Alex Leigh
| Number | Alex Rating | Name | Source Media | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0x3 | 3 | YELLOWSTONE | Digital | When they want your land. |
| 0x4 | 3 | GOING HUNTING | Digital | When it is time to throw down. |
| 0x5 | 3 | I HAVE QUESTIONS | Digital | It's the 90s, and I have questions. |
| 0x6 | 2 | LAST MINUTE | Concert Bootleg | Bootleg recorded by aleigh at the Valley Bar, Phoenix. Zolita. |
| 0x7 | 3 | LA, SWIFTLY | Digital | Synth-laden for sunset. |
| 0x9 | 3 | NOT A CHAPERONE | Digital | I'll let you know what enough is when I get there. |
| 0x10 | 3 | YEAH IT IS | Digital | Those catchy 90s rap songs people don't want to admit they like. |
| 0xA | 3 | EDGE OF WAR | Digital | We've come to the brink, and I'm liking what I am seeing. |
| 0xB | 3 | LIFE IS STRANGE | Digital | Music inspired by the Life is Strange video game. |
| 0xC | 3 | IMPULSE DRIVE | Digital | For driving the strip at night while wearing sunglasses. |
| 0xD | 3 | WHITE RABBIT | Digital | Follow the rabbit. |
| 0xE | 3 | TOKYO PROTOCOL | Digital | Hardwave for overpasses & tunnels. |
| 0xF | 3 | LIVING IS DYING | Digital | The cycle of life: We are born, we live, we die. |
| 0x11 | 3 | 离这里很远 | Digital | Proof you don't have to understand the words. |
| 0x12 | 3 | DEAD LANGUAGE | Digital | For the breakup. You're better off anyways. |
| 0x13 | 3 | DARE ME | Digital | |
| 0x14 | 3 | IT WAS | Digital | |
| 0x15 | 3 | BEAUTIFUL | Digital | |
| 0x16 | 3 | UNTIL IT WENT | Digital | |
| 0x17 | 3 | TOO FAR | Digital | |
| 0x18 | 3 | SPECTER | Digital | Classic rock, blues, and soul. |
| 0x19 | 3 | FORWARD | Digital | Wheels up at 3am, but right now you've got a fifth of whisky and an easy disposition. |
| 0x1A | 3 | FAIRLADY | Digital | Deploy when riding in a Nissan Z-car. |
| 0x1B | 3 | THE TIME HAS COME | Digital | Vinyl bootleg of UNKLE remixes. |
| 0x1C | 3 | MALICIOUS COMPLIANCE | Digital | Guest mix by Nikki after being nagged her for weeks to do it. |
| 0x1D | 3 | HEAVY LIGHT | Digital | Bootleg of scblock mix scb013 |
| 0x1E | 3 | DON'T | Digital | Bootleg of scblock mix scb012 |
| 0x1F | 2 | A BEAUTIFUL NOISE | Digital | Bootleg of scblock mix scb010 |
| 0x20 | 3 | STRAYLIGHT | Digital | At the Villa's silicon core is a small room. |
| 0x22 | 0 | REFERENCE | Minidisc | This mix contains tracks used to technically evaluate audio equipment. |
| 0x23 | 3 | COFFIN CORNER | Digital | For regimes at near-critical speeds. |
Bootlegs
| Number | Alex Rating | Name | Source Media | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0x1 | 3 | BADA LOUNGE | Soundboard Recording | DJ set performed live at the Bada Lounge, Seattle, 2002. |
| 0x2 | 1 | BJORK | Cassette Tape | Bjork's childhood album. This is an odd one and is low quality, and is not recommended except for die-hard Bjork fans who have a historical interest. |
| 0x8 | 2 | THE DAD TAPE | Concert Bootleg | Bootlegged live performance of a Canadian band you have never heard of. Audio is middling quality. |
| 0x1B | 3 | THE TIME HAS COME | Digital | Vinyl bootleg of UNKLE remixes. |
| 0x1C | 3 | MALICIOUS COMPLIANCE | Digital | Guest mix by Nikki after being nagged her for weeks to do it. |
| 0x1D | 3 | HEAVY LIGHT | Digital | Bootleg of scblock mix scb013 |
| 0x1E | 3 | DON'T | Digital | Bootleg of scblock mix scb012 |
| 0x1F | 2 | A BEAUTIFUL NOISE | Digital | Bootleg of scblock mix scb010 |
| 0x21 | 0 | GEAR COMPARISON | Digital | Bootleg of scblock mix scb011. This mix contains tracks used to technically evaluate audio equipment. |
| 0x22 | 0 | REFERENCE | Minidisc | This mix contains tracks used to technically evaluate audio equipment. |
| 0x23 | 3 | ROADTRIP | Cassette Tape | Bootleg of a scblock mix. Original source: cassette tape digitally recorded at 24/96. |
| 0x24 | 3 | MURDER | Cassette Tape | Bootleg of a scblock mix. Original source: cassette tape digitally recorded at 24/96. |
| 0x25 | 3 | THE LESSER KNOWN | Cassette Tape | Bootleg of a scblock mix. Original source: cassette tape digitally recorded at 24/96. |
| 0x26 | 3 | HALF N HALF | Minidisc | Bootleg of bhair mix 1. |
| 0x27 | 3 | WEDNESDAY | Minidisc | Bootleg of a Nikki mix inspired by Wednesday Addams. No track marks. |
Mastering
In the Minidisc-era for the tapes, mastering is burning a CD with the following settings:
- SoundCheck: Enabled (LUFS -16db)
- Gap: 2 seconds. This is required for gap detection on the MD deck to work properly. With the MDS-JB940 the detection is 1.5 seconds.
On the MD:
- SP mode
- Filters disabled
- Optical connection to CD transport
From Vinyl:
- 24/96, RIAA curve to CD to MD (as above)
Sent Out-Of-Band
Tape
Note: This list is very incomplete.
- MM: 0x8, 0x7, 0x5
- BH: 0x7, 0x4
Minidisc
- SB: 0x20, 0x22
- CP: 0x20
- BH: 0x20, 0x1A